Tobirama Senju's pupils shrank.
For the first time—
Genuine wariness filled his gaze as he looked at Uchiha Ren.
This ambition—
Was far beyond what he had expected.
The Daimyō.
Hidden behind the curtain.
Binding the shinobi world with wealth, power, and resources.
For a thousand years—
They had woven an unbreakable web.
The relationship between shinobi and Daimyō—
Too tangled to sever.
Even if one seized early advantage—
The final outcome?
Impossible to predict.
This was accumulated power.
Millennia deep.
And Ren—
Wanted to overturn it with Konoha alone?
Reckless.
Utterly reckless.
Unless—
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined forces.
Only then—
Could brute force crush everything.
But even then—
What came after?
Shinobi couldn't govern nations.
It might become worse.
Better to maintain the current system.
After all—
The Fire Daimyō paid well.
Konoha endured.
People died—
But life continued.
Shinobi…
Were meant to endure.
"…Your idea is dangerous."
Tobirama spoke coldly.
Trying to shut it down.
But Ren shook his head.
"I know all that."
"I'm not stupid enough to just kill the Daimyō."
"If I did that, even Konoha's own shinobi would turn against me."
"The 'tools of war' mindset is too deeply ingrained."
He smiled slightly.
"So I'll take another approach."
"Start from the foundation."
"Dig out their roots."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
Ren continued calmly.
"The Daimyō's strength isn't military."
"It's control."
"They monopolize production."
"They control the civilians."
"They use that value to bind us."
"And the civilians?"
"They fear us."
He paused.
"So why can't shinobi take their place?"
"Why can't we represent the people instead?"
"What do civilians want?"
"Food."
"Stability."
"That's all."
Ren's voice sharpened.
"You've seen it too."
"Starving civilians."
"War destroying livelihoods."
"Every conflict pushes them closer to the Daimyō."
"I'm going to change that."
Silence.
Then—
A flood of ideas.
Production.
Agriculture.
Chakra-enhanced industry.
Efficiency.
Systems.
Concept after concept poured out.
At first—
Ren spoke.
But soon—
Tobirama began responding.
Refining.
Correcting.
Expanding.
What began as opposition—
Turned into discussion.
In that dim chamber—
Two enemies spoke as equals.
Time passed.
"…Hmph."
Ren exhaled lightly.
"Tobirama… I underestimated you."
"You adapted quickly."
"You're far better than those mission-chasing shinobi in Konoha."
Tobirama snorted.
"I am the Hokage."
"Don't compare me to them."
Ren smiled faintly.
"So… you're starting to agree with me?"
"If this works—"
"Wars could be reduced."
"Maybe even… the peace Hashirama dreamed of could be realized."
Tobirama froze for a split second.
Then immediately snapped:
"Don't spout nonsense!"
"You Uchiha brat—"
"I simply don't want you dragging Konoha into ruin!"
"Konoha is my life's work!"
"I will not let you destroy it!"
His tone was firm.
But—
His mind…
Was already turning.
Because Ren's ideas—
Were not empty.
They were possible.
With Konoha's military power—
Step by step—
Undermining the Daimyō's foundation…
By the time they reacted—
It might already be too late.
…And all of it required one thing.
Him.
Tobirama Senju.
The greatest mind of the era.
"Hah."
Ren waved it off.
Too stubborn.
Fine.
This was enough.
Getting Tobirama to cooperate—
That alone was already a victory.
But—
There was one more thing.
Because in this world—
Power ultimately belonged to the individual.
All those grand ideas?
Excuses.
What Ren truly wanted—
Was strength.
And there was another path to it.
A very direct one.
"…Tobirama."
Ren's tone shifted.
"We've reached a common ground."
"So I'll need your help with one more thing."
He unfurled a sealing scroll.
A body—
Appeared.
The moment it did—
Tobirama's vision darkened.
Because lying there—
Was Hashirama Senju.
His brother.
Edo Tensei only required genetic material.
But Ren—
Had taken everything.
The entire body—
Dug up from the grave.
"…You—"
Tobirama's killing intent surged.
Veins bulging.
"You Uchiha devil!!!"
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